Refrigerating method and apparatus



E. A. ARP

REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1933 5 Sheels-Sheet April 20, 1937. E. A ARP 2,077,820

REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed O07.. 23,*1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fr) vengar Ewa/07 fL/Jfp 5y 2171s 6927070? 23'., G. (5f-,Mahl

April 20, 1937. E. A, ARP

REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 20, 1937. E. A. ARP 2,077,820

REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed'oct. 23, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 4 z5 23 u mi 0,10

@l me Q Apfmf, E. A. AW f@ REFRIGERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 VUNITI-:o STATES PATENT OFI-lcs aEFmGEaArING ME'rn'on AND APPARATUS 1 8 Claims.

This invention relatesto a refrigerating method and apparatus, and has more particular relation to a method of and an apparatus for freezing water in receptacles to provide separate blocks or cubes of ice, and removing the blocks or cubes of ice from the receptacles in which frozen and depositing the blocks or cubes into a storage container therefor.

It is the general object of the invention to l0 provide a. novel and improved refrigeratlng method and apparatus adapted to the purpose of carrying out related operations to the production of free or unconfined ice blocks or cubes, as, for example, for ordinary household use,

which operations will contemplate the placing of water to be frozen into separate receptacles therefor, freezing the water to make ice blocks or cubes, and removing the ice blocks or cubes from the receptacles `in which manufactured to a suitable storage chamber for said ice blocks or cubes; or, the general object of' the invention may be stated to be to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus for producing free or unconned ice blocks or cubes stored in bulk at accessiblelocation Within a refrigerating medium, which method and apparatus have the purpose in view of dispensing with manual operations, now necessary in the instance of commercial types of household refrigerators, re-

quired both to place water'to be frozen in usual receptacles therefor, and to remove the frozen blocks or cubes of ice from the receptacles.

More explicitly, it is an object of the invention to provide a refrigerating method and apparatus which will contemplate the making of free or unconned ice blocks or cubes by the per= formance of continuous, or uninterrupted, and related refrgerating, receptacle loading, receptacle emptying, and ice storing operations.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating method and apparatus which will contemplate the separate delivery of each manufactured ice block or cube in completely frozen and moisture free condition to a storage container for the vt5 blocks or cubes kept at temperature sufficiently low to insure that the ice blocks or cubes will not become stuck or frozen together while in storage.

A further object is to provide a novel and 50 improved method and apparatus for producing.

free or unconiined ice blocks or cubes stored in bulk as set forth, which method and apparatus will contemplate the manufacture of the ice blocks or cubesA by their successive produc- 55 tion in groups and successive delivery of the (Cl. (i2-405) groups to a storage container therefor as an uninterrupted procedure.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating method and apparatus as stated in the preceding paragraph, which will contemplate effectiveinterruption of the ice block or cube making and delivering operations whenever the storage container may become fully loaded with ice blocks or cubes.

And a further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus of the character as briefly stated, wherein will be incorporated various improved features and characteristics of construction novel both as individual entitlesof the refrigerating apparatus and in combination.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the novel steps of the method and the construction, arrangement and combination of parts of the apparatus as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in the sequence of the steps of the method, and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the apparatus, being permissible sov long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, taken as on line l-I in Fig. 2, of a refrigerating apparatus made according to the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken as on line 2--2 in Fig. l.;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 3--3 in Fig. 2; A

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 4--4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of certain parts of the apparatus, the present View corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 2, but showing the parts differently positioned;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerating and ice storing unit removed from the apparatus, the coils and storing container being omitted and parts being broken away and in section;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the delivery element removed from the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 8--8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a viewV corresponding with the dis- 2 l ao'msso closure of Fig. 5, but with the parts positioned as -in full lines in Fig. 2

Fig. 10 is a detail view disclosing the ice block or cube delivery element as when operated to deliver a group of ice blocks or cubes:

Fig. 11 is a detail view disclosing the ice block or cube delivery element as when operated by ice blocks or cubes in a full storage container to interrupt the operations of the apparatus:

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring system which can be employed in the refrigerating apparatus: and

Fig. 13 is a detail view disclosing a modifiedlform of delivery element as when operated by ice blocks or cubes, in a full storage container to interrupt the operations of the apparatus.

A description of the novel and improved refrigerating apparatus and its manner of operating will suice to fully disclose as well the features and characteristics of the novel and improved refrigerating method. Y

With respect to the drawings and numerals of reference thereon, an ordinary or-preferred type of refrigerator cabinet I5 desirably includes insulated walls comprising lower wall I6, upper wall I1, side walls Il, rear wall I6, and front wall having a usual insulated door 26 hinged thereon as at 2|. The interior of the refrigerator cabinet I5, naturally, constitutes a refrigerating and food storing space or chamber 22.

A refrigerating and ice storing unit 2l is conveniently mounted in the space or chamber 22, in spaced relation to the walls of the refrigerator cabinet I5 as shown, as by straps 24 riveted to the inner surface of the upper wall I1. The unit 23, speaking broadly,v consists of usual freezing coils 25 which are cooled in any well known manner by means (not shown) forming no part of the invention, and a box-like member 26, of construction to be fully set forth, about which the freezing coils 25 are situated.

The refrigerating apparatus includes operating mechanism the major portion of which may rest upon the upper surface of the upper wall I1 of the refrigerator cabinet, and a preferably removable cover 21 may house the mechanism. See Figs. 1 and 2.

The box-like member 26 includes, in its upper portion and at one of its sides, a refrigerating compartment 28, and also includes, adjacent and below said compartment 26, a storage compartment 29.for blocks or cubes of ice. The compartment 26 is defined by a shaped member` 30 and adjacent walls of the box-like member, said compartment being an oblong, water-tight veslsel,vthe bottom, side and end walls of which are Q 10 and 11.

The storage `compartment 26 slidably houses a suitable container Il in which the ice blocks orcubes are actually delivered for storage. and

said container 33 has a manipulating handle 36 arranged to be accessible for withdrawal ofthe container from the compartment 29 and the cabinet I5 when the door 20 is opened. Normally, the container 33 remains in the compartment29 in the manner as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 9, 10 and 11.

The compartment or vessel 2l suitably houses receptacles 26 in which water to be turned into ice is placed, in a manner to be made clear. As disclosed, there are a plurality of receptacles 86 arranged in alinement. outermost receptacles 86 are mounted. as by studs denoted 56 and s1, respectively, on front and rear walls of the compartment or vessel 2l. As shown, the stud $6 is fixed in the front wall of said compartment or vessel 26 and the stud 81 is arranged in watertight fashion in a diaphragm Il in the rear wall of said compartment or vessel. I'he stud 31 is adapted to have longitudinal movement, and extends beyond the connues of the compartment orvessel2ltoperformaserviceastobeset forth. While the stud 31 is fixed to the diaphragm Il as disclosed, and the diaphragm is adapted to swing inwardly and outwardly in rel spouse to longitudinal reciprocations of said stud,

the stud could be simply slidable through the rear wall of the compartment or vessel 26 provided there is a water-proof seal between the stud and the wall through which it passes. I'he arrangement as illustrated is probably preferable. The receptacles 26 are in spaced apart relation, and each intermediate receptacle is attached to the receptacle next adjacent it through the instrumentality of lugs or pins 36, including a lug or pin 3l at each side, that is, front and rear, of each receptacle and integral with the next adjacent receptacle. The lugs or pins I9 are attached to the, desirably relatively light, upstanding walls of the receptacles, and all of said lugs or pins 66 are desirably in alinement with each other and with the studs 36 and 31. It may be here stated that the receptacles are mounted in the peculiar manner as set forth to cause the stud 31 to have considerable and positive outward movement caused by the freezing of water in the receptacles, it being apparent that with the stud I6 mounted in fixed position, the spreading apart of the walls of the several receptacles caused by freezing of water in said receptacles will be totally or cumulatively imparted to the stud 31. Upon removal of the ice from the receptacles, in the manner to be explained, the side walls of the receptacles return, naturally, to their normal, non-spread-apart condition, to as a result impart inward movement to the stud I1. It is thus that said stud is reciprocated.`

The apparatus includes means for from time to time delivering water to the compartment or vessel 2l, and it is the function of the water as carried to said compartment or vessel to float previously formed ice blocks or cubes from the receptacles 35. Upon thus removing the blocks or cubes of ice from said receptacles, the water which is present itself fills the receptacles. The ice blocks or cubes which have been in the receptacles may remain floating for a short period of time in the open mouth of the compartment or vessel 2l, about as shown in Fig. 5. spaced apart webs III, above and between the receptacles 36, insine that each floated block or cube of ice will be separated from every other block or cube.

A tank for water to be frozen is denoted l I. As disclosed, said tank 6I is conveniently supported at the bottom surface of the lower wall of the refrigerator cabinet. A filling opening for the tank includes a removable closure cap 62. Clearly, the tank 6I could be fed by employment of an ordinary float valve controlled by the water level in the tank. A cylinder 63, below the level of water in the tank, is closed at all of its walls in water-tight fashion. A side wall of the cylaow/,seo

inder includes 'a' port M at its' lower portion receiving a pipe Il leading from the base'of the tank. so" that said cylinder is always full of water, as willbe understood. A vertical pipe li leads upwardly from the cylinder to about, or a little above, the elevation of the upper edge of the shaped'memberll, as shown very clearly in Figs. l and 2. A branch pipe 41 leads horizontally from the pipe Il and communicates with the compartment or vessel 2l through perforations 4I inthe bottom waliof said compartment or vessel. Anoverflow pipe Il leads from the upper'v portion of the vertical pipe at location :lust-below thel upper edge of the member Il to the upper portion of the tank Il. 'Ihe pipes 45 and Il pass through the `lower wall Il of the refrigerator cabinet.

A piston 5l snugly ilts the cylinder I3, and is reciprocable vertically in the cylinder by a piston rod 5l which passes upwardly and freely through the vertical pipe 45 to position above said pipe. The piston is actuated in a manner to be made clear. The port 44 is passed by the piston at the commencement of its upward stroke, as will be evident from Fig. 1, and the arrangement is such that when the piston is elevated to reach the limit of its upward movement; sulllclent water is carried to the compartment or vessel 2l through f the pipes 45 and 41 and the perforations 4l to almost completely fill said compartment eri-vessel, aboutas shown in Fig. 5, provided tliegreceptacles 35 are at the time loaded with"'ic e blocks or cubes. v, It should be here remarked that-after" the ilrst group of ice blocks or cubes are frozen; the receptacles will be loaded with the ice blocks or cubes whenever water is subsequentlyjfed to the compartment kor vessel 28. When the piston 50 is initially elevated, to start of! the apparatus, while the receptacles 35 are empty, the water will immediately fill the receptacles upon passing the elevation of their upper edges'.

Evidently, so long as the piston Vis held in ele vated position, the water will remain at; the elevation in the compartment or vessel 25 to which raised, as previously stated, and the arrangement is such that the water so remains in said compartment or vessel until it has caused the ice blocks or cubes to be oated. 'I'hereafter, the piston is caused to descend. in the meantime; each receptacle 35 has, naturally, become iilled with water.

Means for retaining the ice blocks or cubes at the position to which floated, when the piston descends to allow the water to flow out of the compartment or vessel 28 by gravity through the perforations 48 and the pipes 41 and 46, consists of an ice block or cube delivery element 52. 'I'his element is very clearly disclosed in the drawings. It consists of an ice retaining base or bar 53 of length slightly less than the length of the compartment or vessel 28, and arms 54 extending upwardly at right-angles from theopposite ends of said base or bar. 'I'hc upper ends of the arms 5l are pivotally supported by vertical links 55, which links are supported and reciprocated in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. Suilice it to say at this time, that whenever water is fed to the compartment or vessel 2l, the delivery element is situated as in Fig. 5. That is, the-base or bar 53 is situated along the forward wall of the compartment or vessel 2l between the receptacles and said forward wall at about the elevation of the upper edges of said receptacles, at position to allow the ice blocks or cubes to freely pass'upwardly to location above said base braun. nwuxbenodbyreferencemrias,

The arms Il pass upwardly through slots lll in the upper wall of the member 2i and its oblique portion 32. kThe base or bar Il desirably includes spaced apart lugs l51 yupon its upper surface, and there are preferably a plurality of lugs l1 for engaging each block or cube of ice, to insure that the blocks or cubes cannot turn or twist to be released from the base or bar, as will be understood.

The restricted or connned mouth ofthe cornpartment or vessel '2l deslrably includes spaced apart lugs I8 which are on the adjacent surface of the member 30. At about the time that the piston 50 descends, or is readyto descend, the links 55 are elevated slightly to raise the base or bar 53 from the position as in Fig. 5 to about the position as in Fig. 9, and thus the ice blocks or cubes which were before floated, are held by said base or bar, and against the lugs 58, during the freezing of the water which was just before placed in the receptacles 35. Preferably, each block or cub of ice is at this time supported by the lugs 5l and 5I alone, being otherwise not contacted. At about the time the piston 55 again ascends, or is ready to ascend, the links 5 5 are further elevated, and the ice blocks or cubes are delivered to the storing compartment 29. When the blocks or cubes are so delivered, they are, obviously, completely frozen and free from moisture. Attention is called to the fact that the lugs 58, in addition to serving as means for readily allowing easy 'f sliding of the ice blocks or cubes, preclude the possibility of accumulation of moisture upon the mouth of the compartment orf-vessel 28, which might upon freezing cause obstruction. Attention is alsocalled to the fact that, desirably, the level to which water is raised in the compartment or vessei 28 each time ice blocks or cubes are to be iloated, is just below the open, upper end of said compartment or vessel, whereby to preclude the formation of ice at any location except in the receptacles by floating the blocks or cubes to the highest possible elevation and leaving them here to freeze dry, with a minimum of contacting surface.

One of the arms 5C includes4 an integral protuberance 59 at location adjacent its pivotal support on a link 55, which protuberance 59 is adapted to contact with an obstruction, in a manner to be set forth, to swing the delivery element 52 and its base or bar 53 inwardly of thebox-like member 26 as said delivery element is elevated.

Spaced apart supporting brackets, designated 60 and 6I, are suitably nounted upon the upper wall il of the refrigerator cabinet and beneath the cover 2l. Said brackets 60 and 6I include bearings 52 in which a horizontal shaft 53 is rotatably mounted. The shaft 63 may extend from front to rear of the refrigerator cabinet, as it is disclosed in the drawings. An electric motor 64, also conveniently mounted upon the wall I1 be ,neath the cover 21, includes a relatively slowly tance about said shaft. At 1I the circumferential surface 18 is cut away to provide a lifting shoulder -12 and a drop-off shoulder 13, which shoulders are adjacent each other. A lever 14, pivoted upon the bracket 6I as at 15, includes a shorter arm 16 adapted to ride upon the surface 18 and to lie in the cut-away portion 1I, and a longer arm 11 having an elongated slot 18 in which the pistonrod 5I is slidably pivoted. Said piston rod passes upwardly through a guideway 19 therefor in the wall I1. See Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 2, the'gear rotates in the direction shown by the arrow thereon, to turn the cam 69 in the same direction. During the major portion of a complete revolution of said cam 69, the shorter arm 16 of the lever 14 rides the surface 18. When the drop-oil' shoulder 13 reaches the location of said shorter arm, as shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2, said shorter arm is released as shown in full lines, and the piston 58 descends under the weight of the head of raised water. Then when the lifting shoulder reaches said shorter arm, it is depressed as in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and held in depressed condition by engagement with the surface 18 until the drop-oil.' is again reached. It is thus that the longer arm 11 is raised to elevate the piston and hold it in elevated position.

The shaft 63 also flxedly supports a pair of spaced apart cams 89, one for each of the links 55, which links pass upwardly through guideways 8l therefor in the wall I1. As disclosed, each cam 88 includes an external surface 82 extending the major portion of the distance about the shaft 63. At 83 each surface 82 includes a smooth hump or protuberance which is of general curvilinear conformation. A bracket 84 adjacent one of the cams 88, and desirably supported upon the wall 1 beneath the cover 21, and the bracket 68, pivotally support, as at 85, levers 86. Each lever 86 has a roller 81 mounted thereon in relatively close relation to the corresponding bracket, and said rollers are adapted to ride the cams'80. The outer end of each lever 66 includes an elongated slot 88 in which the upper end of a link 55 is pivotally supported. Evidently, during the major portion of a complete revolution of the shaft 63, the rollers 81 ride the surfaces 82, and once during each revolution oi' said shaft, the humps or protuberances 63 ride under said rollers. The humps or protuberances 83 are at the same angular relation to the shaft 63 so that the rollers are caused to rise and fall concurrently'and in equal degree. It will be vseen that the delivery element 52 remains at its lowestposition, as in Fig. 5, during the major portion of the rotation of the shaft 63, and is quickly raised when the humps or protuberances 83 reach the location of the rollers 81..

It might' be here remarked that during the operations of freezing ice blocks or cubes, the rollers 81 stationarily rest upon the advancing surfaces of the humps or protuberances 83 to retain the delivery element 52 at elevation as in full lines in said Fig. 2, and as in Fig. 9, where said delivao'msso ery element cooperates with the lugs 58 to hold the receptacles-85 in the mouthof the compartment or vessel 28. as already described.

Also during the actual freezing operations. the shorter arm 18 of the lever 14 is stationarily positioned in the cut-away portion 1I of the cam 88. and the piston is completely depressed to uncover the port 44, as these parts are disclosed in Figs. l and 2.

The wiring system of the apparatus includes a fixed contact member 89 insulatively mounted upon the top surface of the wall i1, as indicated at 8.8. A movable contact member 8l, which normally engages the nxed contact member 89, -is insulatively supported upon a stop bar or lrod 92 vertically slidable in a guide way 98 in the wall I1. The lower portion of the stop bar or rod 92 extends below 'said wall I1, and constitutes the obstruction, before referred to, adapted to be engaged by the protuberance 59 upon an arm 84 during the upward movement of the delivery element 52. A flat spring 94, on the inner surface of the wall I1 and engaged in a slot of the stop bar or rod 92, normally holds the bar or rod in depressed condition and the movable contact member 8I in engagement with the fixed contact member 89. The flat spring is of sufficient strength to cause the delivery element to be swung, as already set forth, to deliver the ice blocks or cubes in normal operation, as in Fig. 10, but when the storage container is full of blocks or cubes of ice, the protuberance 59 acts against the stop bar or rod 92 and overcomes the fiat spring 94 to remove the movable contact member 9| from the fixed contact member 89, as in Fig. 11. Sumce it to say at this time, that separation of the contact members 89 and 9| interrupts the operations of the apparatus. Evidently, upon clearing the passage for ice blocks or cubes to the storage container, the flat spring 94 acts to return the movable contact member 9| into engagement with the fixed contact member 89, and to deliver the blocks or cubes which had been obstructed.

'I'he wiring system of'the apparatus also includes an electric switch controlled by the storage container 33, and adapted to be closed when said storage container is in its normal position in the storage compartment 29, but to be opened to interrupt the operation of the apparatus whenever the storage container is even partially withdrawn from said storage compartment. A movable contact member, designated 95, of the electric switch just mentioned, is insulatively supported by a post 98 extending rearwardly from the rearward wall of the storage container 33, and is adapted to be engaged between a pair of fixed contact members 91 and 96 suitably and insulatively supported upon the rearward wall I9 of the refrigerator cabinet. The post 96 extends through the back wall ofthe box-like member `26 and through a suitable guideway 99 in said 'I'he members 91 and 98 are of springy The wiring system of the apparatus likewise includes an electric switch controlled by the stud 31. A movable cbntact member, designated |09, of the present electric switch is insulatively mounted upon the wall I9 to be engaged by an insulating button on the stud 31 and to engage a fixed contact member |l, also insulatively mounted upon said wall I9, the arrangement being such that normally, when the stud 31 is in receded position, the movable contact member i0@ is, by reason of its resiliency, clear of the fixed contact member lili, but when said stud 31 is in extended position, it forces said movable ccntact member, against the tendency of its natural resiliency, into engagement with. said fixed contact member, as will be understood. A guide way in the wall i9 for the stud Sl is denoted |82.

The wiring system of the apparatus additionally includes a pair of contact members, represented |08 and |04. insulatively mounted upon the brachet 6| and adapted to wipe over the insulatively supported gear 61 as this rotates, and an insulat ing block |05 of relatively small dimension is associated with said gear 61 to be engaged by the contact member |03 once during each revolution of the gear.

Numerals |06 and |01 denote lead wires from a suitable source (not shown) of electrical energy. The lead wire |06 extends to the fixed contact member 89. The lead wire |01 extends to the motor 89.

A lead wire |08 connectsthe movable contact member 9| with the contact member |03, and a lead wire |09 connects the motor 64 with the con`= tact element |00.

A lead wire I I0 connects the lead wire |00 with the spring contact member |00, a lead wire lll connects the lead wire |09 with the contact member 98, and a lead wire 2 connects the contact members 91 and |0| with each other.

Assume that the parts of the apparatus are disposed as in Figs. 1, 2 and 12 when water is being frozen in the receptacles 35. Ice blocks or cubes are held by the delivery element 52 in the mouth of the compartment or vessel 28 as in said Fig. 2, the rollers 81 being upon higher parts of the cams 80. The motor current is held broken by reason of the fact that the contact member |03 is engaged with the insulating block |05, clear of the gear 81,'and the control members |00 and |0| are out of engagement, as in said Figs. 1 and 12. The shorter arm 18 of the lever 14 is in the cutaway portion 1| of the cam 69, and the piston 50 is depressed, as in said Figs. 1 and 2. Upon the water in said receptacles becoming frozen, the stud 31 is extended to cause the movable contact member |00 to engage the fixed contact member 0|. Thus a circuit is made through the motor 84, said circuit being traced from the lead wire |06 through the fixed contact member 89 to the movable contact member 9|, thence through the lead wires 00 and ||0 to the spring contact member |00,"thence through the contact member |0| and the lead wire I2 to the contact member 91, thence through the contact members 95 and 98 to the lead wire and thence through the lead wire |09 and the motor 64 back to the lead wire |01. 'Ihus the motor will be energized to rotate the gear 01 at a relatively slow and predetermined rate 'of speed. Almost immediately, and while the contact members |00 and I0| are in engagement, the insulating block |05 will move from member 83. During this revolution of the gear 81, the stud 8l will recede by reason of the removal of the ice blocks or cubes from the receptacles 85. The circuit throughthe motor @t is traced, when the contact member E93, as well as the contact member ltd, conductively engages said gear El, from the lead wire |98 through the fixed contact member il@ to the movable contact member 9| thence through the lead wire itil and the contact member itil to the gear tl, and thence through the contact member |89, the lead wire |09 and the motor @Il back to the lead Wire itil. 'Upon commencement of rotation of the gear fil, and consequent rotation of the shaft t5, the humps or protuberances 88 of the cams will quickly elevate the delivery element 52 to deliver the ice blocks or cubes from the mouth ci the compartment or vessel to the storage container E, the protuberance and the stop bar or rod 98 interacting and cooperating in the manner as set forth. immediately thereafter, the rollers tl will quickly slide down the succeeding sides of the humps or protuberances |39 to allow the delivery element Si. to be positioned as in Fig. 5 until said humps or protuberances again engage the rollers near the end of the complete rotation of the shaft 69. Desirably just before the delivery element has moved to position as in Fig. 5, the lifting shoulder 12 engages the short arm le of the lever 19, elevates the piston 58, and holds said piston in elevated position during almost a com= plete revolution of the cam 69; that is, until the shorter arm 18 reaches the drop-off shoulder 13. It is While the rollers 8l are riding the circumferential surfaces 82 and the shorter arm 1S is riding the circumferential surface 18, with the base or bar 59 depressed, and the piston 59 eievated, that the water in the compartment or vessel 28 is oating the ice blocks or cubes out of the receptacles, and thus. replacing said blocks or cubes. Naturally, the shaft 63 is rotated sumciently slowly to insure that the ice blocks or cubes will be iicated lin the interval of time allotted.

The relative arrangement ls such that the contact member |03 rides upon the insulating block |05 and clear of the gear 61, just after the shorter arm 16 ofthe lever 10 rides over the drop-oil shoulder 13, and just when the rollers 81 ride up along the advancing surfaces of the humps or protuberances 83, so that the disclosure as in Fig. 2 properly represents the arrangement of the various parts of' the apparatus when the freezing operation on the water in the receptacles is actually being accomplished. When the piston 50 lowers. the water recedes from the compartment or vessel 28, and leaves the receptacles 35 loadedl with water to be frozen.

To originally start off the apparatus, it is only necessary to place water in the receptaclesI 35, as will be evident. Upon freezing of the water into blocks or cubes, the operations as described will commence, provided the parts are positioned as in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The electric switch including the fixed contact member 89 and the movable contact member 9| being in the motor circuit as made at both the gear 61 and switch |00, |0| will obviously cause the motor 6I to be deenergized whenever the member 9| becomes removed from the'member 89, as before set forth. Also, the motor 64 cannot be energized by engagement of the switch members |00 and |0| if the' switch 91, 95, 98 is open. Whenever the switch 89, 9| is open, the whole apparatus is dead, and upon closing of this switch by clearing a way for the ice blocks or cubes being delivered, the apparatus commences exactly where it left off. Whenever the switch 91, 95, 98 is open, there can be no operation of the motor unless through the gear circuit. It is immediately after the gear circuit is made that ice blocks or cubes are delivered to the storage container, so the breaking of said switch 91, 99, 98 is effective to preclude the passage of ice blocks or cubes to the storage compartment 29 when the storage container is withdrawn, unless withdrawn at the very short interval between the closing of the switch |00, IOI and delivery of the manufactured and dry ice blocks or cubes. Attention is called to the fact, however, that were the switch 91, 95, 98 also in the gear circuit, as well as in the circuit including the switch |00, IOI, as, for

example, in the lead wire i08, no movement of the motor 8l could occur with said switch 91, 95, 98 in open position, as will be evident.

In any instance when the electric safety switch 91, 95, 98 is not employed, the contact member IOI will be directly connected to the lead wire I I I.

It will be evident that the ice blocks or cubes, which are delivered to the storage container in completely frozen, moisture free condition, are stored in close enough proximity to the freezing coils to insure a low temperature precluding sticking or freezing together of the blocks or cubes in storage.

By reference to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the delivery element 52 when operated by the ice blocks or cubes in a full storage container will, or might, lie in said storage container to preclude its withdrawal from the storage compartment 29. In Fifi. 13 I have disclosed a modified form of delivery element, denoted 52', which is like the delivery element 52 in all respects, except that an arm 54', equivalent to an arm 54, integrally supports an offset stop member II3 including an extension piece I I4 adapted to lie just in front of the forward wall of the storage container 33 when the delivery element 52' is operated by the ice blocks or cubes to interrupt the operations of the apparatus, as shown in full lines in said Fig. 13. The stop member I I3 and its extension piece II4 are in proper spaced relation t'o the adjacent arm 54' to clear the box-like member 28 when the delivery element is swung, as will be understood. By grasping the extension piece IH and swinging it to the left in Fig. 13 to position clear of the storage container, the delivery element 52 is also swung clear of said container to allow its withdrawal. When the container is partially withdrawn, the extension piece can be released to engage the adjacent side wall of said container, as will be evident. Thus, the delivery element will be held inactive and the motor operating circuit wlll be held open at the switch 89, 9I whenever the storage container is partially withdrawn, and the necessity for a switch such as 91, 95, 98 will not exist. When the storage container is slid in and out, the extension piece II4 will slide over the wall of said container which said extension piece engages.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making blocks of ice, which consists in freezing water in each of several receptacles to provide separate blocks of ice, floating said blocks of ice from the receptacles while concurrently loading the receptacles with water, withdrawing the water from said blocks of ice, subjecting said blocks of ice while in spaced apart relation to the influence of freezing medium and concurrently freezing said water loaded into said annoso receptacles, and delivering 'the resulting dry blocks of ice to a storage container therefor also subjected to the influence of freezing medium.vr

2. The method of making blocks of ice, which consists in placing water in each of a plurality of receptacles, freezing said water, floating the resulting blocks of ice from the receptacles while concurrently loading the receptacles with water for providing additional blocks of ice, 'running of! the water from said blocks of ice while leaving the receptacles loaded with water, drying said blocks of ice by subjecting each block while in spaced apart relation to every other block' to freezing medium, freezing said water loaded into said receptacles concurrently with the drying of the blocks of ice, and delivering the dry blocks of ice to a storage compartment therefor kept below freezing temperature.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a medium for freezing water in a receptacle, means for removing the resulting block of ice from said receptacle while concurrently ,loading said receptacle with water to be frozen into an additional block of ice, and means for delivering said removed block of ice while subjected to the influence of freezing medium to a cooled storage chamber therefor.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a receptacle, means for freezing water therein, means for removing the resulting block of ice from said receptacle and`1oading the receptacle with water for providing an additional block of ice, and means for retaining said removed block of ice at location subjected to the influence of freezing medium and for later delivering said removed block of ice from said location to a cooled storage chamber.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of receptacles, means for freezing water in each of said receptacles, means for floating blocks of ice from said receptacles while concurrently loading the receptacles with water and for running oif the water from said floated blocks of ice while leaving the receptacles loaded with water, and means for retaining each removed block of ice in spaced apart relation to every other block and at location subjected to the influence of freezing medium while freemng water in said receptacles, to thus dry said blocks, and for depositing the dry blocks of ice into a cooled storage chamber therefor.

6. 'I'he combination as specified in claim 5, and means for interrupting the operation of the ice block depositing means when said storage chamber is loaded with blocks of ice.

7. An apparatus for making blocks of ice, comprising a compartment for receiving water, receptacles in said compartment and adapted to receive water therefrom, means for freezing water in said receptacles, means for conveying water to said compartment and about ice blocks in said receptacles and holding said water in said compartment for a period requisite to oatsaid ice blocks from said receptacles and itself 'fill the receptacles, said last mentioned means being actuatable to allow water to be run off from the floated ice blocks while leaving .the receptacles loaded with water, and means for retaining each removed ice block in spaced apart relation to ali others of the ice blocks while subjected to the influence of freezing medium adapted to dry the ice blocks and for delivering the ice blocks when dry to a cooled storage container therefor.

8. An apparatus of the character described. comprising a vessel having receptacles therein,

l means for freezing water in said receptacles, an

electric motor, a starting circuit for said motor, means actuated by said motor for' conveying water to lsaid vessel and about blocks of ice in said receptacles and holding said water in said vessel until said blocks of ice are floated from' the receptacles and water is replaced therein, means responsive to the freezing of water in said receptacles foiclosing said motor starting circuit, said last mentioned means being adapted to break said motor starting circuit upon the removal of blocks of ice from said receptacles, an operating circuit for said motor, means responsive to initial actuation of said motor for making said operating circuit before said starting circuit is broken and responsive to later actuation of said motor for breaking said operating circuit, said means actuated by said motor for conveying water to and holding water in said vessel being actuateble after said blocks of ice are floated to run all Water off from said vessel except water retained by said receptacles, whereby to drain water off of said iioated blocks of ice, and means controlled by said motor for retaining each block of ice which wasiloated in said vessel in spaced relation to ali others of said blocks of ice while subjected` to the iniluence of freezing medium for an interval of time, whereby to dry the blocks of ice, and for delivering the dry blocks of ice to a cooled storage container therefor.

9. The combination as specified in claim ii, wherein said means responsive to the freezing of water in said receptacles for closing said motor starting circuit includes a switch actuating element, and means for cumulatively imparting expansion of each receptacle caused by freezing of water therein to said actuating element.

10. The method of making blocks of ice, which comprises the continuous operations of freezing water in receptacles, removing the resulting blocks of ice from the-receptacles by partial melt ing of said blocks of ice, continuously subjecting the receptacles to freezing medium, retaining removed blocks of ice at location subjected to freez ing medium, depositing the retained blocks of ice in a cooled storage chamber. and placing water in said receptacles concurrently with the removal of blocks of ice therefrom.

11. The method of making 9, block of ice, which consists in freezing water in a receptacle to proi-l vide a block of ice, oating the block of ice from the receptacle while concurrently loading the receptacle with water, withdrawing the water from the block of ice, subjecting the block of ice to the influence of freezing medium and concurrentlyv the water, oating the resulting block of ice from the receptacle while concurrently loading the receptacle with water for providing an additional block of ice, running oif the water from a block of ice while leaving the receptacle loaded with water, drying the block of ice by subjecting it to freezing medium, freezing the water loaded into the receptacle concurrently with the drying of a block of ice, and delivering the dry block of ice to a storage compartment therefor.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising medium for freezing water in a receptacle, means for floating the resultant block of ice from said receptacle while concurrently loading the-receptacle `Withvvater to be frozen into an additional block ofice, means for retain ing the floated bloeit of ice clear of Water and subjected to freezing medium during at least a portion of the interval while water is being frozen in said receptacle, whereby to make the bloei: of ice dry, and means for delivering the block of ice when dry to a storage chamber.

an apparatus of the character described, comprising a receptacle, means for freezing water in said receptacle, means for iioating a bloei; o ice from said receptacle While concurrently loading the receptacle with Water and for running E the water from the floated block of ice while leaving the receptacle loaded with Water, seid last mentioned meam being adapted to float said. block oi ice to a predetermined location and means for retaining the removed block of ice at said location and subjected to the influence of freezing medium during at least a portion of the interval while freezing Water in said receptacle, to thus dry the biocla, and for depositing the dried "block oi ice intoa cooled storage chamber.

i5. An apparatus for making blocks of ice, comprising a compartment for receiving Water, receptacle in said compartment and adapted to receive Water therefrom, means for freezing Water in said receptacle, means for conveying water to said compartment and about an ice block in said receptacle and for holding said water in said compartment for a period requisite to float said ice block from said receptacle and itself fill the receptacle, said last mentioned means being adapted to fioat said block of ice to a predeter mined location and being actuatable to allow Water to be run o from the floated ice blocli while leaving the receptacle loaded with Water, and means for retaining the removed ice block clear of water at said location and subjected to thev inuence of freezing medium adapted to dry said ice block and for delivering the ice block when dry to a cooled storage chamber.

16., An apparatus of the character described,

comprising a receptacle, means for placing water therein, continuously operative freezing medium for said Water, means for floating a block of ice from said receptacle while placing water in the receptacle, said last mentioned means being adapted to float said block of ice to a location, means for retaining said block of ice at said loca'a tion while water is removed from said block of ice, whereby to dry the block of ice, and means for delivering the block of ice when dry to a storage space therefor.

i7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a receptacle, means for freezing water in said receptacle, means for floating a block of ice from said receptacle While concurrently loadlng the receptacle with water and for floating said block to an intended location and for running off the water from the floated block of ice while leaving the receptacle loaded with Water, and means for retaining the removed and floated block of ice at said intended location while running Water off of the ice block, whereby to dry theblock of ice, and for depositing the dried block to a chamber therefor.

18. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a compartment for receiving'water, a receptacle in said compartment and adapted to receive water therefrom, means for freezing water in said receptacle, means for conveying water to' said compartment and about an ice block in said receptacle and for holding the water in said Colm pattment foxf a period requisite to float said ice block from said receptacle and itself till the receptacle and to also float the ice block to an intendedl location in the apparatus, said last men- .s tioned means being actuatable to allow water to run oi! from the floated ice block whlleleavingthe receptacle loaded with water. and means for retaining the removed block of ice at the location to which floated while causing water to run of! from the ice block and for thereafter delivering the block o! ice to a chamber therefor.

v EWALD A. ARP. 

